U.S. patent number 7,712,018 [Application Number 11/302,001] was granted by the patent office on 2010-05-04 for selecting and formatting warped text.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Microsoft Corporation. Invention is credited to Michael John Arvold, Sara Melanie Brown, Jonathan Patrick Schoeller, Dachuan Zhang.
United States Patent |
7,712,018 |
Brown , et al. |
May 4, 2010 |
Selecting and formatting warped text
Abstract
Selecting and formatting warped text is disclosed. Text effects
such as an underline effect and/or a strikethrough effect may be
transformed along with rectangular text to form a warped text
element. In such a situation, the text effects are warped with the
characters of the text. Also, warped text may be accurately
selected or "hit." The coordinates of a selection of warped text
are inversely transformed to map the selection to the rectangular
text. The inverse transform provides an accurate manner to
determine the scope and location of the selection. When the scope
and location are determined, the graphical representation of the
selection may be transformed to provide a user with an accurate
representation of a warped selection.
Inventors: |
Brown; Sara Melanie (Palo Alto,
CA), Zhang; Dachuan (Sunnyvale, CA), Schoeller; Jonathan
Patrick (Mountain View, CA), Arvold; Michael John
(Seattle, WA) |
Assignee: |
Microsoft Corporation (Redmond,
WA)
|
Family
ID: |
38140928 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/302,001 |
Filed: |
December 12, 2005 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20070136664 A1 |
Jun 14, 2007 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/204;
715/256 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F
40/109 (20200101) |
Current International
Class: |
G06F
17/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;715/222,204,256,269,243 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Adobe Illustrator;
http://www.adobe.com/products/illustrator/overview2.htm1; 7 pgs.
cited by other .
Adobe Photoshop;
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/overview2.html; 6 pgs.
cited by other .
Digital Imaging--Photoshop: Support Working with Text;
http://www.hypermedia7.ie/tutorials/photoshop/text.htm. cited by
other.
|
Primary Examiner: Ries; Laurie
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Merchant & Gould Grace; Ryan
T.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A computer-implemented method for selecting and formatting
warped text, the method comprising: obtaining a text element having
a linear orientation in a document of an application; receiving a
selection to warp the text element; upon receiving the selection to
warp the text element, applying a transform algorithm to the text
element to cause a computer processor to transform the linear
orientation into a warped orientation; obtaining a text effect
selection of the warped orientation of the text element; applying
an inverse transform algorithm to the text effect selection of the
warped text element, wherein the inverse transform algorithm is an
inverse algorithm of the transform algorithm; determining a
location of the text effect selection in relation to the text
element having the linear orientation based on the application of
the inverse transform algorithm; and after determining the location
of the text effect selection in relation to the text element having
the linear orientation, applying the transform algorithm to a text
effect related to the text effect selection to cause a computer
processor to display the text effect at the determined location in
the warped orientation of the text element.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the text
element includes at least one member of a group comprising: a
character, a letter, a number, a word, a symbol, a graph, and a
picture.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the text
effect includes at least one member of a group comprising: a
highlight selection, an underline, and a strikethrough.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the text
effect selection relates to a cursor hit on the warped
orientation.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the text
effect selection includes a cursor displayed rotated in accordance
with the warped orientation.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the text
effect selection relates to a selection highlight block on the
warped orientation.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the
selection highlight block is rotated in accordance with the warped
orientation.
8. A computer-readable storage medium having computer executable
instructions for selecting and formatting warped text, the
instructions comprising: obtaining a text element having a linear
orientation; receiving a selection to warp the text element; upon
receiving the selection to warp the text element, applying a
transform algorithm to the text element to transform the linear
orientation into a warped orientation; obtaining a text effect
selection of the warped orientation of the text element; applying
an inverse transform algorithm to the text effect selection of the
warped text element, wherein the inverse transform algorithm is an
inverse algorithm of the transform algorithm; determining a
location of the text effect selection in relation to the text
element having the linear orientation based on the application of
the inverse transform algorithm; and applying the transform
algorithm to a text effect related to the text effect selection to
display the text effect at the determined location in the warped
orientation of the text element.
9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the
text element includes at least one member of a group comprising: a
character, a letter, a number, a word, a symbol, a graph, and a
picture.
10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the
text effect includes at least one member of a group comprising: a
highlight selection, an underline, and a strikethrough.
11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the
text effect selection relates to a cursor hit on the warped
orientation.
12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the
text effect selection includes a cursor displayed rotated in
accordance with the warped orientation.
13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the
text effect selection relates to a selection highlight block on the
warped orientation.
14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the
selection highlight block is rotated in accordance with the warped
orientation.
15. A system for selecting and formatting warped text, the
instructions comprising: a processor; and a memory having computer
executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the
computer-executable instructions are configured for: obtaining a
text element having a linear orientation; receiving a selection to
warp the text element; upon receiving the selection to warp the
text element, applying a transform algorithm to the text element to
transform the linear orientation into a warped orientation;
obtaining a text effect selection of the warped orientation of the
text element; applying an inverse transform algorithm to the text
effect selection of the warped text element, wherein the inverse
transform algorithm is an inverse algorithm of the transform
algorithm; determining a location of the text effect selection in
relation to the text element having the linear orientation based on
the application of the inverse transform algorithm; and applying
the transform algorithm to a text effect related to the text effect
selection to display the text effect at the determined location in
the warped orientation of the text element.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the text effect includes at
least one member of a group comprising: a highlight selection, an
underline, and a strikethrough.
17. The system of claim 15, wherein the text effect selection
relates to a cursor hit on the warped orientation.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the text effect selection
includes a cursor displayed rotated in accordance with the warped
orientation.
19. The system of claim 15, wherein the text effect selection
relates to a selection highlight block on the warped
orientation.
20. The system of claim 19, wherein the selection highlight block
is rotated in accordance with the warped orientation.
Description
BACKGROUND
Warping text is one manner for displaying text. Generally,
characters are transformed to a warped orientation. Warping text
applies to characters of the text. There is no manner for warping
text effects, which makes warping undesirable in many situations.
Moreover, selecting and or modifying warped text is inefficient and
inaccurate. Such inefficiency and inaccuracy occurs because
selection of a warped element does not take into account that the
element is warped. Therefore, the user may make a selection based
on the visual orientation of the warped element; however, the
selection may map to a different portion of the element.
SUMMARY
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a
simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed
Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features
or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Also, this
Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope
of the claimed subject matter.
Aspects of the disclosure include selecting and formatting warped
text. Text effects such as an underline effect and/or a
strikethrough effect may be transformed along with rectangular text
to form a warped text element. In such a situation, the text
effects are warped with the characters of the text. Also, warped
text may be accurately selected or "hit." When a selection is made,
a pointer's coordinates in the warped text are inversely
transformed to map the selection to the rectangular text. The
inverse transform provides an accurate manner to determine the
scope and location of the selection. When the scope and location
are determined, the graphical representation of the selection may
be transformed to provide a user with an accurate representation of
the location of the selection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present
invention are described with reference to the following figures,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the
various views unless otherwise specified.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary computing device that may be used
in one aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary mobile device that may be used in
one aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 3 represents one exemplary system overview for selecting and
formatting warped text;
FIG. 4 represents one exemplary warped text element associated with
one aspect of selecting and formatting warped text;
FIG. 5 is an operational flow diagram representing an exemplary
embodiment for warping a rectangular text element; and
FIG. 6 is an operational flow diagram representing an exemplary
embodiment for selecting and formatting warped text.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the
accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show
specific exemplary embodiments. However, embodiments may be
implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as
limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these
embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough
and complete, and will fully convey the scope. Embodiments may be
practiced as methods, systems or devices. Accordingly, embodiments
may take the form of an entirely hardware implementation, an
entirely software implementation or an implementation combining
software and hardware aspects. The following detailed description
is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
The logical operations of the various embodiments are implemented
(1) as a sequence of computer implemented steps running on a
computing system and/or (2) as interconnected machine modules
within the computing system. The implementation is a matter of
choice dependent on the performance requirements of the computing
system implementing the invention. Accordingly, the logical
operations making up the embodiments of the present invention
described herein are referred to alternatively as operations, steps
or modules.
Illustrative Embodiments for Selecting and Formatting Warped
Text
Aspects of the disclosure include selecting and formatting warped
text. As one aspect of the disclosure, text effects such as an
underline effect and/or a strikethrough effect may be transformed
along with rectangular text to form a warped text element. In such
a situation, the text effects are warped with the characters of the
text.
In other aspects of the disclosure, warped text may be accurately
selected or "hit." Aspects may also include associating one or more
effects to the selection. When a selection is made, the pointer's
coordinates in the warped text are inversely transformed to map the
selection to the rectangular text. The inverse transform provides
an accurate manner to determine the scope and location of the
selection. When the scope and location are determined, the
graphical representation of the selection may be transformed to
provide a user with an accurate representation of the location of
the selection.
As is more fully set forth herein, aspects of the disclosure
provide a manner for warping text effects and for accurately
applying text effects to warped text. Aspects also include
providing accurate selection or hitting of text that is warped.
FIG. 3 represents one exemplary system overview 300 for selecting
and formatting warped text. Rectangular text element 302,
transformer 304, and warped text element 306 represent a general
modular overview of some aspects of the disclosure. Rectangular
text element 302, transformer 304, and warped text element 306 may
be integrated as a combination of software and hardware elements,
an operating system or any combination thereof. Hardware,
databases, software or applications referenced herein may be
integrated as a single element or include various elements in
communication with one another. Software and/or hardware elements
are depicted herein for explanatory purposes only and not for
limiting the configuration to multiple elements or a single element
performing several functions. Elements of rectangular text element
302, transformer 304 and warped text element 306 may reside on a
single computing device or a plurality of computing devices in
communication with one another. Aspects of rectangular text element
302, transformer 304 and warped text element 306 may be associated
with computing device 100 as exemplified in FIG. 1 and/or mobile
computing device 200 as exemplified in FIG. 2. However, FIG. 3 is
but one exemplary system and not meant for limiting the
functionality disclosed herein to a particular device, a single
device or a plurality of devices.
In FIG. 3, system 300 may include rectangular text element 302.
Rectangular text element 302 may include any type of text element
associated with a rectangular layout. For example, in one aspect,
rectangular text element 302 may be associated with MICROSOFT WORD
of MICROSOFT CORPORATION headquartered in Redmond, Wash. In another
aspect, rectangular text element 302 may be associated with
MICROSOFT EXCEL of MICROSOFT CORPORATION headquartered in Redmond,
Wash. As yet another example, rectangular text element 302 may be
associated with MICROSOFT POWERPOINT of MICROSOFT CORPORATION
headquartered in Redmond, Wash. As still another example,
rectangular text element 302 may be associated with MICROSOFT WORD
ART of MICROSOFT CORPORATION headquartered in Redmond, Wash. In
general, rectangular text element 302 may include and/or be
associated with any type of program that includes text entry.
In other aspects, rectangular text element 302, may include text
effects. For example, rectangular text element 302 may include
selection 308. As another example, rectangular text element 302 may
include strikethrough 310. In still another example, rectangular
text element 302 may include underline 312. In general, rectangular
text element 302 may include text and text effects generated in a
rectangular coordinate system.
System 300 may include transformer 304. Transformer 304 may include
a transformer for transforming a rectangular text element into a
warped text element. Transformer 304 may be associated with a
transform algorithm that transforms data associated with the
graphical representation of rectangular text elements into warped
text elements. Transformer 304 may include a plurality of transform
algorithms that cause rectangular text elements to be transformed
into one or more warped representations of the rectangular text
elements.
Warped text element 306 may include warped text and effects that
are associated with rectangular text element 302 via transformer
304. For example, warped text element 306 may include warped
selection 314. Warped selection 314 may be associated with
selection 308 via transformer 304. Warped selection 314 may include
a warped representation of selection 308. As another example,
warped text element 306 may include warped strikethrough 316.
Warped strikethrough 316 may be associated with strikethrough 310
via transformer 304. Warped strikethrough 316 may include a warped
representation of strikethrough 310. As still another example,
warped text element 306 may include warped underline 318. Warped
underline 318 may be associated with underline 312 via transformer
304. Warped underline 318 may include a warped representation of
underline 312.
In general and as one example of the functionality of elements of
the disclosure, a user may obtain a text element. The text element
may include one or more characters along with one or more text
effects. When it is decided to warp the text element, a transformer
is instantiated to transform the text element according to one or
more transform algorithms. The transform algorithm is applied to
the layout of the text element to generate a warped text
element.
When a warped text element has been generated, a user may desire
selecting and/or modifying the warped text element. As one example,
a user may select a point between two warped characters to add more
characters. In such a situation, a user may click a mouse button to
insert a cursor between the two warped characters. In another
example, a user may select a group of warped characters to add one
or more text effects. In such a situation, the inverse of the
transform algorithm is applied to the coordinates of the pointer.
The coordinates of the selection is determined in association with
the rectangular text element. Once the position of the selection is
determined, the transform algorithm is instantiated to transform
the selection in accordance with the transform algorithm and
display the warped text with a warped selection determined by the
transformed coordinates. In this manner, text effects may be warped
along with characters and the coordinates of a selection or hit on
the warped text may be accurately displayed to a user.
FIG. 4 represents one exemplary warped text element 400. Warped
text element 400 may include warped text 402. Warped text 402 may
include text elements after a transform algorithm has been applied
to rectangular text elements. For example, in FIG. 4, warped text
402 includes the word "Warp". Warped text element 400 may also
include a warped selection 404. As an example in FIG. 4, warped
selection 404 is represented by the shaded area. In one aspect,
warped selection 404 is associated with the same transform
algorithm as warped text 402.
FIG. 5 is an operational flow diagram representing an exemplary
embodiment for warping a rectangular text element. Operational flow
500 begins at start operation 502 and continues to operation 504.
Operation 504 includes obtaining a rectangular text element. A
rectangular text element may include a character, letter, number,
word, symbol, graph, picture, and/or any other means of
representational display. In one aspect, a rectangular text element
includes a linear orientation. In another aspect, a rectangular
text element includes a linear orientation in a rectangular
coordinate system.
Operational flow 500 continues to decision operation 506. At
decision operation 506, it is determined whether the obtained
rectangular text element is associated with text effects. In one
aspect, a text effect may include a selection block, an underline,
and/or a strikethrough. The text effect may be pre-associated with
the rectangular text element or the text effect may include a user
input to apply the text effect. Where text effects are associated,
operational flow 500 continues to operation 508. At operation 508,
text effects are applied to the rectangular text element and
operational flow loops back as depicted in FIG. 5.
In the situation where text effects are not associated with the
obtained rectangular text element, operational flow 500 continues
from decision operation 506 to decision operation 510. At decision
operation 510, it is decided whether to warp the rectangular text
element. Such a decision may include a user decision, a preset
configuration, an automatic decision, a decision upon user input,
or any other manner of making a decision in a computing
environment. When it is decided not to warp the rectangular text
element, operational flow 500 continues to end operation 516.
When it is decided to warp the rectangular text element,
operational flow 500 continues from decision operation 510 to
operation 512. At operation 512 a transform is applied to the
rectangular text element. The transform may include a transform
algorithm that transforms the rectangular text element into a
warped text element. The transform may include an algorithm for
modifying, transforming and/or warping the linear orientation of
the rectangular text element to a warped orientation. In general,
the transform may include any type of transform for transforming a
rectangular text element to a warped representation.
Operational flow 500 continues to operation 514 where the warped
text is generated. In one aspect, the warped text is displayed to a
user. The warped text element may also include a shape selection
box associated with the warped text element when a user selects the
warped text element. The warped text may also include a text
selection box associated with the warped text element when the user
selects the text of the warped text element. The warped text
selection box may indicate the shape of the warp. Operational flow
500 continues to end operation 516.
FIG. 6 is an operational flow diagram representing an exemplary
embodiment for selecting and formatting warped text. Operational
flow 600 begins at start operation 602 and continues to operation
604, where a warped text element is obtained. In one aspect, a
warped text element is obtained through user generation of the
warped text element. In another aspect, the warped text element may
be pre-generated.
Operational flow 600 continues to decision operation 608. At
decision operation 608 it is decided whether a selection has
occurred. A selection may include a user selecting the warped text
element or a portion of the warped text element. The selection may
be associated with the X and Y coordinates of a pointer. As an
example, a user may use a mouse to hover a cursor to an area to
input (hit) the cursor in the warped text element. The user may
click the mouse to insert the cursor at a specific point. In
another situation, the user may select a portion of the warped text
element by dragging the cursor over a portion of the warped text
element. In such a situation, a selection block is generated over
the selected portion. Even though a mouse is described herein, a
user may also use a keyboard, joystick, input stick, pad or any
other type of input device to make a selection. If a selection does
not take place, operational flow 600 loops back as indicated in
FIG. 6.
When a selection has occurred, operational flow 600 continues to
decision operation 608. At decision operation 608, it is determined
whether to apply a text effect. In one aspect a text effect may
include a selection, an underline and/or a strikethrough. In
another aspect, the text effect is applied through a user
selection. As an example at this stage in operational flow 600, a
user may obtain a warped text element. The user may decide to make
a selection by inserting the cursor at a point in the warped text
element and/or selecting a portion of the warped text element. In
one aspect, when a portion of the warped text element is selected a
text effect may be instantiated, such as underlining the selected
portion.
When text effects are not applied, operational flow 600 continues
to 612 as more fully set forth below. When text effects are
applied, operational flow 600 continues to operation 610 where the
text effect is associated with the selection. Operational flow 600
then continues to operation 612.
At operation 612, an inverse transform is applied to the
coordinates of the selection. The inverse transform may include an
inverse transform algorithm that associates the selection with the
rectangular text element to identify the positioning of the
selection. In general, the inverse transform may include any type
of transform for determining the location of the user selection in
a warped orientation.
Operational flow 600 continues to operation 614. At operation 614,
the positioning and/or scope of the selection is determined in the
rectangular orientation. In this manner, when the user makes a
selection associated with the warped text element, the coordinates
of the selection are mapped to the rectangular text element to
determine the location of the selection.
At operation 616, the location of the selection is known. The
transform is applied to the selection to display the selection in
the warped orientation. The transform may include aspects of the
transform described above in association with FIG. 5. The transform
may also include the same transform as described above in
association with FIG. 5.
Operational flow 600 continues to operation 618 where the warped
text element having the warped selection is displayed to the user.
For example, the warped selection may include aspects of the
selection associated with FIG. 4. When text effects are associated
with the selection, the warped selection may include aspects of
warped text element 306 described above in association with FIG. 3.
In one aspect, the warped selection includes a cursor. The cursor
may remain a straight vertical line in the warped text stream. The
cursor may map to the warped characters and rotate based on the
direction of the warp.
As stated herein, aspects of the disclosure allow text effects to
be warped along with a rectangular text element. Also aspects
provide an accurate manner for determining where a selection and/or
hit have occurred within a warped text element. Such an aspect
allows a user to accurately select and modify warped text elements
once the warped text elements have been generated.
Illustrative Operating Environment
Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary system for implementing the
invention includes a computing device, such as computing device
100. In a basic configuration, computing device 100 typically
includes at least one processing unit 102 and system memory 104.
Depending on the exact configuration and type of computing device,
system memory 104 may be volatile (such as RAM), non-volatile (such
as ROM, flash memory, and the like) or some combination of the two.
System memory 104 typically includes operating system 105, one or
more applications 106, and may include program data 107. In one
embodiment, applications 106 further include application 120 for
selecting and formatting warped text. This basic configuration is
illustrated in FIG. 1 by those components within dashed line
108.
Computing device 100 may also have additional features or
functionality. For example, computing device 100 may also include
additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable)
such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such
additional storage is illustrated in FIG. 1 by removable storage
109 and non-removable storage 110. Computer storage media may
include volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable
media implemented in any method or technology for storage of
information, such as computer readable instructions, data
structures, program modules or other data. System memory 104,
removable storage 109 and non-removable storage 110 are all
examples of computer storage media. Computer storage media
includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or
other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or
other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic
disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium
which can be used to store the desired information and which can be
accessed by computing device 100. Any such computer storage media
may be part of device 100. Computing device 100 may also have input
device(s) 112 such as a keyboard, mouse, pen, voice input device,
touch input device, etc. Output device(s) 114 such as a display,
speakers, printer, etc. may also be included. All these devices are
known in the art and need not be discussed at length here.
Computing device 100 also contains communication connection(s) 116
that allow the device to communicate with other computing devices
118, such as over a network or a wireless mesh network.
Communication connection(s) 116 is an example of communication
media. Communication media typically embodies computer readable
instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a
modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport
mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term
"modulated data signal" means a signal that has one or more of its
characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode
information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation,
communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or
direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF,
infrared and other wireless media. The term computer readable media
as used herein includes both storage media and communication
media.
FIG. 2 illustrates a mobile computing device 200 that may be used
in one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. With
reference to FIG. 2, one exemplary system for implementing the
invention includes a mobile computing device, such as mobile
computing device 200. The mobile computing device 200 has processor
260, memory 262, display 228, and keypad 232. Memory 262 generally
includes both volatile memory (e.g., RAM) and non-volatile memory
(e.g., ROM, Flash Memory, or the like). Mobile computing device 200
includes operating system 264, which is resident in memory 262 and
executes on processor 260. Keypad 232 may be a push button numeric
dialing pad (such as on a typical telephone), or a multi-key
keyboard (such as a conventional keyboard). Display 228 may be a
liquid crystal display, or any other type of display commonly used
in mobile computing devices. Display 228 may be touch-sensitive,
and would then also act as an input device.
One or more application programs 266 are loaded into memory 262 and
run on operating system 264. Examples of application programs
include phone dialer programs, e-mail programs, scheduling
programs, PIM (personal information management) programs, word
processing programs, spreadsheet programs, Internet browser
programs, and so forth. Mobile computing device 200 also includes
non-volatile storage 268 within memory 262. Non-volatile storage
268 may be used to store persistent information which should not be
lost if mobile computing device 200 is powered down. Applications
266 may use and store information in storage 268, such as e-mail or
other messages used by an e-mail application, contact information
used by a PIM, appointment information used by a scheduling
program, documents used by a word processing application, and the
like. In one embodiment, applications 266 further include
application 280 for selecting and formatting warped text.
Mobile computing device 200 has power supply 270, which may be
implemented as one or more batteries. Power supply 270 might
further include an external power source, such as an AC adapter or
a powered docking cradle that supplements or recharges the
batteries.
Mobile computing device 200 is shown with two types of external
notification mechanisms: LED 240 and audio interface 274. These
devices may be directly coupled to power supply 270 so that when
activated, they remain on for a duration dictated by the
notification mechanism even though processor 260 and other
components might shut down to conserve battery power. LED 240 may
be programmed to remain on indefinitely until the user takes action
to indicate the powered-on status of the device. Audio interface
274 is used to provide audible signals to and receive audible
signals from the user. For example, audio interface 274 may be
coupled to a speaker for providing audible output and to a
microphone for receiving audible input, such as to facilitate a
telephone conversation.
Mobile computing device 200 also includes radio interface layer 272
that performs the function of transmitting and receiving
communications, such as radio frequency communications. Radio
interface layer 272 facilitates wireless connectivity between
mobile computing device 200 and the outside world, via a
communications carrier or service provider. Transmissions to and
from radio interface layer 272 are conducted under control of
operating system 264. In other words, communications received by
radio interface layer 272 may be disseminated to application
programs 266 via operating system 264, and vice versa.
Although the invention has been described in language that is
specific to structural features and/or methodological steps, it is
to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims
is not necessarily limited to the specific features or steps
described. Rather, the specific features and steps are disclosed as
forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments
of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims
hereinafter appended.
* * * * *
References